Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted that playing in the Europa League on Thursday nights is having a negative effect on the club's domestic campaign because there is usually a day less to recover before a weekend fixture.
United are due to face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon when just two full days will have passed since taking on Zorya Luhansk in freezing southern Ukraine on Thursday evening.
"We don't have a lot of rest because these Thursdays are killing you, especially me," the 35-year-old is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
"I am not used to playing Thursdays and now we have one day less to recover. We have to get back to work and play the new game on Sunday," he added.
United have won only of their Premier League games that has come directly after Europa League commitments so far - a 3-1 win against a poor Swansea side early last month.
The 3-1 defeat at Watford in September, the 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Chelsea, the 1-1 home draw with Stoke and the recent 1-1 tie with West Ham have all come in the days immediately following United's European games this season.
Having played in the Champions League on Wednesday, Spurs have had 24 hours longer to rest and prepare for the contest at Old Trafford on Sunday, while United head into Sunday on a poor run of five consecutive home league draws.
For Ibrahimovic, being able to close and kill off games that are effectively won is critical after conceding late equalisers against Stoke, Arsenal and Everton, as well as failing to make pressure count against Burnley and West Ham.
"We have created many chances and sometimes you can win 1-0," the Swede said.
The moment Zlatan made it 2-0 v Zorya and notched his 13th goal for #MUFC. pic.twitter.com/PZrXQIO3rr
"But I think we have learned now that we have to score more than one goal to make sure we get the three points. Hopefully we can start killing teams off with a second goal. We want to kill every game we play."
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155